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Il Mulino is an Italian restaurant in the popular Schwabing district and is number 6 of the 10 Italian restaurants I'm reviewing for you, all of which are part of my "Favorite Italian" list. Most of you who enjoy dining out will likely be familiar with Il Mulino, as it's clearly one of the more well-known Italian restaurants. You'll notice this as soon as you enter the restaurant, located on Josephsplatz, and find that almost all the tables are usually occupied. This was also the case on the evening my companion and I reviewed Il Mulino for you.
To reach the restaurant, you take the short path past the spacious terrace and outdoor seating area, climb a few steps, and you'll find yourself in the comfortably lit entrance area with its prominent bar and inviting atmosphere. In the front area, next to the substantial bar made of dark wood, there are several comfortable (high) tables for guests. As soon as the friendly restaurant manager greets you in the entrance area, he or one of the other friendly staff members will show you to your reserved table. So, a word of warning: Just showing up at Il Mulino without a reservation – at least in the evening – is rather difficult, and you might not get a table. Thankfully, I had booked in advance, and so, just two minutes after my arrival, I was seated at a cozy table for two in a quiet corner with a good view of the restaurant.
Here, all the tables are set with white tablecloths and cloth napkins, already laid out for the guests. My companion arrived a little later, as finding a parking spot in this area was somewhat difficult, so I had a bit of time to look around. Besides dark wood-paneled walls, stylish lamps, a suspended stucco ceiling with lighting, cognac-colored leather banquettes, parquet floors, dark furniture, and divided seating areas, Il Mulino impresses with its excellent cuisine and cozy atmosphere. The tables at Il Mulino are quite close together, which is certainly due to the fact that a relatively large number of guests need to be served simultaneously. A little further back in the restaurant area, there is another, somewhat separate seating area with a quieter atmosphere. During my visit, all the tables were completely booked, yet it was still possible to have a pleasant conversation at a normal volume.
I hadn't been seated long when a basket of fresh bread arrived, and I was asked what I'd like to drink. I naturally accepted the suggested Ramazzotti Rosato with lime, mint, and Spumante Chardonnay as an aperitif (€6.40) and immediately enjoyed it. (Give it a try if you haven't tried it yet). After a couple of sips, a small plate of delicious bruschetta appeared before me – a complimentary amuse-bouche that every guest at Il Mulino receives. It's seasoned with pepper and delicious olive oil at the table and then enjoyed – a perfect appetizer and, in my opinion, always a welcome treat at an Italian restaurant. You can choose your meal from the standard menu, but there's also an additional handwritten menu with special dishes. (See photos). The waiter recommended the daily special: fresh porcini mushrooms. Il Mulino always has something special in store for its guests. I waited to choose our food until my companion had finally parked 😉 and browsed the menu in the meantime. Once we were finally alone, the bruschetta arrived, along with the elderflower spritz with Chardonnay sparkling wine (Hugo for short ;-)) that we had ordered (also €6.40). We also ordered a bottle of still water, and then we started choosing our main course.
I followed the waiter's advice and chose the porcini mushrooms with salad and potato wedges as a starter, as mentioned at the table. My companion opted for the minestrone (€5.80) from the regular menu. There's definitely some truth to that saying: you can quickly tell if a restaurant "knows what it's doing" by looking at the simple things – and at Il Mulino, that was clearly the case, especially when it came to the taste of the minestrone. Crisp vegetables, intense flavor, and a good portion. My starter was also excellent. I have a real taste for salty food, and the fact that the chef was "a little too enthusiastic" with my starter wasn't a problem for me. The portions are fairly sized and reasonably priced – you're obviously paying a bit for the restaurant's reputation and location. The empty plates were cleared in a flash, and we moved on to our chosen main courses. I went for the monkfish with truffles and rice (€25.90), while my companion chose grilled baby lamb chops with vegetables (€20.50). The pictures speak for themselves – nevertheless: My fish, generously sprinkled with truffle, was a true dream. The sauce was incredibly delicious and perfectly complemented the rice, fish, and truffle flavor – I would order it again in a heartbeat, and if you're quick, you can enjoy the truffle too. My companion's lamb dish was also wonderful. Very tender meat, plenty to bite into, and superb in combination with the vegetables. Highly recommended. If you miss out on this special menu, there are sure to be new specials waiting for you on the next menu. The standard menu offers pasta, pizza, fish, meat, antipasti, salads, soup, and dessert. The menu also notes that those with allergies will find something to enjoy at Il Mulino, and the waiter is happy to assist with any questions.
Of course, the popular restaurant also offers lunch. During the week, from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM (!), they have lunch specials: a small salad with pasta (€9.50), with pizza (€8.90), and with fish or meat (€13.90). The restaurant seats approximately 105 people inside, and there's additional seating for 180 guests at comfortable tables in the outdoor area. Something that absolutely must be mentioned here: Il Mulino is probably one of the few restaurants in Munich—in fact, I don't know of any others—where the same head chef has been cooking for 34 years (it opened 35 years ago). Cool, right? I can't stress this enough: even though restaurateurs probably don't like to hear it: without a good kitchen team, there's no good food and therefore no customers. I myself have been to numerous restaurants where, without even knowing beforehand, I immediately noticed that the head chef had changed because the food tasted different or worse. At Il Mulino, that's definitely not going to happen to you. That's why they offer some indispensable specialties that are well worth ordering: whether it's a classic eggplant casserole, swordfish with eggplant, rabbit, tagliolini with tuna or swordfish, or many other favorites of their numerous regulars. Il Mulino hasn't been around for nothing; it impresses day after day with packed rooms, happy (regular) customers, and empty plates. Definitely stop by. Card payments are accepted, the Josephsplatz subway station is just 200 meters away, and nothing stands in the way of a fantastic Italian evening.
I'll be back: Yes. Certainly a bit more expensive, but worth the money.
Place visited: Il Mulino
Address: Görresstraße 1, 80798 Munich
Website: Il Mulino
Pictures:
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